Cushion-wheel.



J. THISSBN.

CUSHION WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS 50., PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D. c

SHEETS-SHEET z.

Patented Jan. 12

J. THISSEN.

CUSHION WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY15, 1913.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO LITHOH WASHING roN. D. 0.

T T ()FFHJF JACOB THISSEN, OF KANE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CUSHION-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

Application filed May 15, 1913. Serial No. 767,843.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that zen of the United States, residing at Kane, in thecounty of McKean and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Cushion- Wheels, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to means for cushioning vehicle wheels andparticularly to resilient or cushion tires for vehicles.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a very simple andeffective resilient tire wherein the tire proper is formed ofindependently yieldable sections each section being supported by its owncushioning means and so constructed that each section may be removed forreplacement or repair without the necessity of removing or disturbingthe other sections.

A further object is the provision of fluid cushioning means disposedbetween the tire proper and the telly, there being one of thesecushioning means for each of the sections.

Still a further object is the provision in connection with the fluidcushioning means disposed one for each section, of spring cushioningmeans disposed at the overlapping ends of the sections.

A further object is to so construct the tire that provision is made fora dust-proof joint between the plates forming the tire sections and theside plates attached to the telly, and so construct these coactingplates that the plates forming the sides of the telly will constantlybear against the plates forming the sections of the tire without,however, impeding the free movement of these tire sections.

A further object is the provision in a tire of a plurality of tiresections outwardly urged by yieldable means and provision in connectiontherewith of means for limiting the outward movement of the tiresections under the impulse of the cushioning means, said limiting meansbeing adjustable.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a wheel constructed inaccordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 4:; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion otthe I,JACOB THISSEN, citiwheel telly and the cushioning devices thereln, thesection of the tire or rim being removed; Fig. 4. is a transversesection on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a transverse section on theline 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail illustrating amodification in the construction.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that my improved wheel comprises ahub portion 2 of any suitable description having the radially extendingspokes 3 and a telly or rim 4. All these parts may be formed of anydesired material and of any suitable form.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, it will be seen that attached to the rimor telly 1 are the side plates 5 which extend outward from the rim andparallel to each other and may be attached to the rim by means of boltsor in any suitable manner. The side plates 5, it will be seen, form partof the rim and form a housing for the cushioning devices hereafterdescribed. The inner margin of each of the side plates 5 is formed withthe outwardly projecting flange 6. Formed with or attached to the sideplates 5 at spaced intervals are the laterally projecting ribs 7 theouter faces of which are curved, these ribs having the same length asthe depth of the side plates 5 and forming reinforcing ribs. Attached tothe ribs are countersunk bolts or screws and also attached to the outeredges of the flanges 6 are the curved plates 8. These plates areoutwardly bowed, as shown clearly in Figs. 4: and 5, and are preferablymade of steel. The outer edges of the plate are inwardly bent as at 9,and then returned over the inner faces of the plates 5 as at 10.

The tire proper is formed of a series of U -shaped sections designated11. These sections are curved length-wise to conform to the curvature ofthe circumference of the wheel and are U-shaped in cross-section asillustrated in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 2, each section-overlaps at oneend as at 12 the adjacent end of the next adjacent section. It is to beunderstood, however, that these sections 11 have a sliding movementrelative to each other and are to this extent independent of each other.The margins of these sections 11 as illustrated in Fig. A bear againstthe inwardly curved margins of the plates 8 and have sliding engagementwith these plates. These plates 11 are slightly resilient so that asthey are forced inward they will have a wedging engagement with thebowed plates 8 and when the pressure which forces them inward isrelieved they will tend to spring out to their normal position.

Disposed at spaced intervals Within the tire are a plurality of casings13. These casings,as illustrated in Fig. 3,-are rectangular in form andextend transversely to the felly and are set into sockets formed in theface of the felly. Each of these Casings 13 is closed at its outer endby means of a plate 14 with packing 15 interposed between the plate andthe adjacent end of the casing. This plate 14 is removable and isattached to the end of the casing 13 in any suitable manner. The innerend of the casing 13 is closed by an integral plate 16. Each casingforms a reservoir for oil or other fluid. Disposed within each casing isa cylinder 17. Thiscylinder is closed at its inner end by means of thewall 18 and at its outer end by means of a cap 19. Each cylinderprojects through the plate 14 and is screw threaded at its end for theengagement of the cap 19 which is therefore removable. It will be seenthat the cap 19 holds the cover 18 in close contact with the casing 13.Disposed within each of the cylinders 17 is a coil spring 20 and restingupon the outer end of this spring is a piston 21 having a piston rod orplunger 22 which extends out through the cap 19 and at its outer end hasscrew-threaded engagement with the boss upon the plate 11 forming one ofthe tire sections. It will be noted that this boss is located at themiddle of the plate. The interior of the cylinder 17 is intended to befilled with oil or other fluid, as is the interior of the casing 13. Theinner end of each cylinder is formed with one or more perforations 23whereby fluid may pass from the interior of the cylinder 17 into thecasing 23 or back again. Each cylinder and casing is held in place bymeans of a bolt 24 which passes through the felly or rim 4, this boltbeing tubular as illustrated in Fig. 4 and being closed by means of aplug 25.

It will be seen that the springs 20 will act to urge the plunger 22outward and thus urge the tire sections outward. These sections areadditionally urged outward by means of a plurality of pairs of springs26, see Figs. 1 and 5, these springs being coil springs resting insockets formed upon the face of the felly 4 and at their outer endsbearing in sockets formed in a head 27. There are as many heads 27 asthere are pairs of coil springs 26 and each head comprises a laterallyand longitudinally curved plate 28, a filling piece 29 and a transverseplate 30. The plate 30, the filling piece 29 and the plate 28 areconnected to each other 65 by radially disposed bolts or rivets 31. It

will be seen by Fig. 2 that these heads 27 are of sufficient length andare so disposed as to bear against the under face of the joint formedbetween the overlapping margins of the adjacent section plates 11. Thereis a pair of springs 26 to each of these members 27, as shown in Figs. 2and 5. The heads 27 are not attached to the section plates 11 but merelybear against the inner faces of the section plates. If there was noresistance offered to the expansion of these springs, they would merelyact to force the section plates 11 outward so that the tire Would beexpanded to such an extent that the margins of the section plates wouldnot engage with the plates 8. In order to prevent this and to hold thesection plates in proper normal relation to the felly 4, I providechains 32 which, as illustrated, extend radially and which limit theoutward movement of the plates 11 under the action of the springs 20 and26. Preferably, the limiting action of these chains is adjustable sothat the tire sections may be adjusted relative to the tension ofthe-springs 20 and 26. For this purpose I form within the space betweenthe plates 5 and the plates 8 a plurality of oppositely disposed sockets33.

These sockets are rectangular in cross section as illustrated in Fig. 3and disposed in each socket is a slide 34, this slide having ascrew-threaded aperture 35 at one end. Passing through the flanges 6 areadjusting bolts 36 having screw-threaded engagement with the slides. Byturning these bolts 36 in one direction or the other. the slides will beeither drawn inward or forced outward. hen drawn in they will draw onthe chains 27, thus drawing the tire 11 inward and compressing thesprings 20 and 26. When the screws are turned in the opposite direction,however, they permit the springs 20 and 26 to urge the tire sectionsfurther outward. In order to permit the passage of the chains 32, theoverturned portions 9 of the plates 8 are cutaway at intervals. Inasmuchas the tire sections are not connected to each other, these chains 32perform a very vital function when limiting the expansion of the springs20 and 26 and yet leaving the tire sections freely movable independentlyof each other. As shown in Fig. 1, there are two chains 32 extendingfrom each of the slides 34. This pair of chains is divergently relatedand one chain extends to the adjacent end of one'of the tire sectionswhile the other chain extends to the adjacent end of the other tiresection. The chains are attached to these tire sections by means of eyes37. The sockets 33 are rectangular in form so as to prevent any,rotation of the slides 34.

Preferably the tire sections are covered by ing designated 38. Asillustrated in Fig. 1, these sections of the casing overlap each otherin the manner of scales. These sections may be made of leather or othersuitable material and the inner ends of the sections are attached to theflanges 6 of the felly by means of the bolts 36 before referred to.Inasmuch as these casing sections 38 are flexible, they do not in anyway impede the free movement of the tire sections 11. It will be obviousthat no strain comes upon these casing sections 38 for the reason thatthe strain of the springs 20 and 26 is supported by means of the chains82. Preferably a lining or padding 39 of felt or other suitable materialis disposed between the tire sections 11 and the leather coveringsections 38 so as to prevent the cutting of these leather coveringsections.

The operation of my invention Will be obvious from what has gone before.The springs 20 will constantly urge the plunger 22 outward, and thesesprings 20 with the springs 26 will urge the tire plate sectionsoutward, resiliently resisting any tendency of the tire section to beforced inward. "When in use, however, as each section strikes the groundand the weight of the load comes upon the section the tire section willbe forced inward against the force of the spring 20 and the springs 26.The fluid contained in the cylinder 17 will cushion the inward movementof the piston 21, but as the pressure increases the fluid containedwithin the cylinder 17 will be forced out through the apertures 23 intothe casing 13. This permits relatively light springs 20 and 26 to beused and yet prevents too great compression under load. When pressureupon a tire section has been relieved, the springs 20 will cause theoutward movement of the piston 21 and the fluid contained within thecasing 13 will be sucked back into the cylinder 17. Upon an inwardmovement of the tire sections the chains 32 will of course give, as willthe outer covering sections 38. Upon the relief of pressure the tiresections will move out to the full limit of the chains 32 so as tooccupy their normal position.

The margin of each tire section 11 will always have close contact withthe corresponding plates 8 by reason of the bulge in said plates whichwill act to expand the margin of the tire section slightly so that themargin of the tire section will follow the curvature of the plates 8. Asa matter of fact, there will be a wedging action between the margins ofthe sections 11 and the plates 8 which will tend to urge these sectionsoutward.

It will be seen that each one of the covering sections is independentlyremovable and that each one of the tire sections is independentlyremovable. Thus the tire sections may be repaired and replaced and thesprings repaired and replaced without difliculty. Furthermore, it willbe seen that the loosening of two pairs of screws 36 will loosen one ofthe plates or sections 11 entirely and will partially release the twoadjacent sections so as to permit the withdrawal and replacement of any.one of the section plates 11.

Each section plate, it will be seen, is supported at its middle mostlyby the spring 20 and the piston 21, but at its opposite ends eachsection plate is supported by means of the heads 28 and is forcedoutward by means of springs 26. This provides for an ample support foreach of the section plates of the tire and at the same time permits ofindependent yielding movement of either the entire plate or the ends ofthe plate. Inasmuch as the casings 16 are seated in relatively deepsockets and held in place by the bolts 24, and inasmuch as the plungerrods 22 pass out through the caps 19 and are attached to the tireplates, creeping of the tire will be prevented relative to the wheelstructure.

Each section plate is preferably transversely ribbed, the ribs beingdesignated 39. Rubber or any other material of like nature may be laidbetween these ribs so as to deaden the noise of the plates contactingwith the ground, and in this case it would not be necessary to providethe exterior covering sections 38.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A cushion wheel including a felly, a plurality of tire sections,outwardly extending guiding members carried by said felly on each sidethereof, yielding means for exerting a constant outward pressure on thetire sections, slidable blocks disposed within said guiding members,flexible connections connecting each of said blocks to the adjacentportion of the corresponding tire section, and adjusting screws passingthrough portions of said felly and having screw threaded engagement withsaid sliding members.

2. A cushion wheel including a felly having laterally projectingflanges, tire sections arranged concentrically to the felly, springsdisposed between the felly and the tire sections and "urging themoutward, radially disposed sockets formed on said flanges, slidesmounted at the end of said sockets, flexible connections between saidslides and the tire sections, and adjusting screws passing radiallythrough the flanges of the felly and having screw-threaded engagementwith said slides whereby the outward movement of the tire sections maybe adjustably limited.

3. In a cushion wheel, a felly, a tire, a plurality of reservoir casingsmounted on the felly in spaced relation, a plurality of cylinders onedisposed in each casing and having an opening at its inner end leadinginto said casing, and pistons disposed in each cylinder having pistonrods engaging the tire.

4. In a cushion Wheel, a telly, a tire composed of sections concentricto the folly, a plurality of vreservoir casings disposed at intervalsupon the telly a plurality of cylinders one for each casing and havingeach an opening at its inner end communicating with the interior of thecasing, pistons disposed in each cylinder having piston rods eachconnected to the middle of one of said sections, and springs disposedwithin the cylinder and resisting the inward movement of the pistons.

a 5. A cushion wheel of the character described including a felly havingfiat, parallel, outwardly projecting side walls, radially arrangedreinforcing ribs on the side walls having convexly curved side edges,laterally bowed side plates mounted on and supported Copies of thispotent my be obtained for by said ribs, a tire composed of a pluralityof independent sections, each section consisting of a U-shaped plate,the sides being resilient and having telescopic and wedging engagementover the outwardly bowed side plates of the folly, means disposedbetween the side walls of the telly for yieldably urging the tiresectionsoutwardly, and flexible connections disposed between the sidewalls and the side plates of the folly and at their outer ends engagingwith said tire sections and limiting the outward movement of-the tiresections under the action of said means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB THISSEN. [L. s.]

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. O."

